The findings ?robustly demonstrate that children from households identifying as either of the two major world religions (Christianity and Islam) were less altruistic than children from non-religious households?.
Older children, usually those with a longer exposure to religion, ?exhibit[ed] the greatest negative relations?.
The study also found that ?religiosity affects children?s punitive tendencies?. Children from religious households ?frequently appear to be more judgmental of others? actions?, it said.
Muslim children judged ?interpersonal harm as more mean? than children from Christian families, with non-religious children the least judgmental. Muslim children demanded harsher punishment than those from Christian or non-religious homes.
At the same time, the report said that religious parents were more likely than others to consider their children to be ?more empathetic and more sensitive to the plight of others?.
Religious children are meaner than their secular counterparts, study finds | World news | The Guardian